Rotary meter



Nov. 8, 19384. A. J. sAARlNEN ROTARY METER Filed May 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig. 1

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NOV. 8, 1938. A, J SAARlNEN 2,135,644

ROTARY METER Filed May 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig, 5

Y, Patented Nov. 8, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ROTARY LIETER Application May 25, 1937, Serial No. 144,740

12 Claims.

'Ihe invention relates primarily to meters of the general type disclosed in the U. S. Patent of Armas J. Saarinen, No. 2,131,236, of September 27, 1936. In this type of meter, vanes are rotatable about a common axis in a fluid-conducting casing and are operatively connected with a register-driving disk, said disk being eccentric to the vane axis and being carried by a rotatively adjustable head, adjustments of said head serving to increase the maximum and decrease the Y minimum angles between. vanes, or vice versa, to

obtain agreement between meter output and register reading. Heretofore, rather complicated and expensive means were provided for adjusting this head and holding it in adjusted position,

but the present invention aims to provide improved and simplified means for these purposes.

With the foregoing in view, the invention resides in the novel subject matter hereinafter described and claimed, description being accomplished by reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of a meter improved inaccordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a'vertical sectional view on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a detail vertical, section on line 4-4 offFig. 3.4

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view.

In the drawings above briefly described, the numeral 5 denotes the substantially cylindrical casing of a meter of the type above explained, the inlet of said casing being shown at 6 and the outlet at 1. Suitably secured to one end wall of the casing 5 is a central shaft 9 upon which vanes I0 are pivotally and rotatably mounted, said vanes being operatively connected by links II or yother suitable means, with a register-driving disk I2, the axis of said disk being eccentric to the axis of the shaft 9 to cause relative opening and closing of the vanes as the meter operates. The

disk I2 is rotatably mounted within a recess I3 in a rotatively adjustable head I4, said head being mounted in an upstanding neck I5 upon the upper end plate I6 of the casing 5. The disk I2 is provided with a central upstanding registerdriving shaft I1 which extends through and above the head Il, the upper end of said shaft I1 being provided with 'a gear IB meshing 4with another gear I9 on a shaft 20 which is intended to drive the meter register (not shown). 'I'his shaft 20 passes through a suitable stuillng box 2l on a (Cl. 'I3-253) cover plate 22 secured by bolts or the like 23 upon the neck I5.

'I'he inner face of the disk I2, the corresponding face of the head I4, and the inner face of the end plate I6, are all disposed in the same plane 5 for contact with the upper edges of the vanes I0. and any movement of said head I4 inwardly beyond said plane, is prevented by abutting shoulders 24 and 25 on said head and the neck I5 respectively. Holding of the head Il in this man- 10 ner also properly holds the disk I2 against movement inwardly beyond the aforesaid plane, in view of the fact that the shaft I1 of said disk I2 is mounted in bearings 26 in said head, said bearings being of any preferred type to prevent both 15 radial and vertical movement of said shaft I1 with respect to said head. By means of one of the improved features of construction, the head It' is normally pressed inwardly until the shoulders 24 and 25 contact with such friction as to 20 hold said head against accidental rotation, and by thus holding said head against outward movement, its inner face and the inner face of the disk I2 are heldin the same plane with the inner face of the top plate I6. When the frictional con- 25 tact between the shoulders 2l and 25 is relieved, the head I4 may be rotatively adjusted and such adjustment serves, as in the application abovementioned, to increase the maximum and decrease the minimum angles between the vanes I0, 30 or vice versa, during operation of the meter, to obtain agreement between meter output and register reading.

An adjusting shaft 21 passes through an opening 28 in the cover plate 22 and the inner end of 35 this shaft is provided with an eccentric portion 29 received in a substantially radial groove 30 formed in the upper side of the head I4, whereby turning of said shaft 21, after relieving the frictional contact between the shoulders 24 and 25, 40 will turn said head I4 to vary the above mentioned angles between the vanes. Preferably the eccentric portion 2! is in the form of a pin projecting from a flange 29 formed integrally with 45 the lower end of the shaft 21, said flange lying against the lower side of the cover plate 22. The upper end of the shaft 21 projects above the cover plate 22 and is preferably squared at 3 I, or otherwise shaped to permit engagement by a wrench 50 or tne like, allowing turning of said shaft as required. This upper end of the shaft is preferably provided with an indicating mark 32 cooperable with a plurality of such marks 33 on the `cover plate 22 for use when turning said shaft to 55 produce any plus or minus adjustment of the meter which may be required.

For holding the head I4 in adjusted position by inwardly pressing said head until the shoulder 24 frlctionally engages the shoulder 25 with the necessary friction, a pressure member 34 and a. clamping screw 35 are provided. The clamping member 34 is interposed between the head I4 and the cover plate 22 and in the present disclosure is provided with'three legs 38, 31 and 38, the two legs 36 and 31 being disposed at opposite'sides of the gear I8 while the third leg 38 is received in a socket 39 formed in the lower side of the cover plate 22. I'he member 34 is provided with a socket 40 in which the lower end of the clamping screw 35 is swiveled as shown at 4I. It will thus be seen that tightening of the clamping screw 35 will inwardly press the member 34, causing said member to press inwardly upon t'he head I4, thereby holding the shoulder 24 against the shoulder 25 with such friction as to hold said head I4 against accidental rotation. When releasing the screw 35, the friction between the shoulders 24 and 25 is so relieved that the head I4 may be rotatively adjusted by turning the shaft 21. ing of the screw 35 and at all other times, rotation of the member 34 is prevented, due to reception of its leg 38 in the socket 39, there being thus no danger of the legs 3B and 31 moving into contact with the gear I8.

The upper end of the clamping screw 35 is preferably squared as shown at 42 and I prefer that this squared end be the same size as the corresponding end 3| of the shaft 21, allowing use of the same Wrench for both adjustments. After adjustment and locking, the squared ends 3| and 42 of the shaft 21 and screw 35 respectively, are covered by an appropriate elongated cap 43 secured to the cover plate 22 by cap screws or the like 44, a suitable gasket 45 being preferably interposed between said cap 43 and said cover plate 22.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that simple and inexpensive, yet operated means ,have been provided for rotatively adjusting the head I4 and for holding said head in adjusted position. While the preferred structures for these means have been shown, minor variations m`ay of course be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

The projection 46 shown in Figs. 1 and 5, is merely an upward enlargement on the cover plate 22, within which the socket 39 is formed. 'I'he projections 41 are lmerely bosses to which the register (not shown) is secured.

1. In a mechanism of the class described having a fluid-conducting casing, vanes rotatable about a common axis in said casing, a rotary disk eccentric to said axis, means connecting said vanes with said disk, and a rotatively adjustable head mounted in said casing and carrying said disk for varying the eccentricity of said disk with respect to the vane axis said casing `and head being provided `with abutting portions for holding said head against inward movement; a presysure member contacting with the outer side of said head, and a clamping screw threaded through a portion of said casing, said clamping screw extending unidirectionally with the axis of said head and engaging said pressure member, whereby tightening of vsaid screw will cause said pressure member to inwardly press said head,fthere by holding said abutting portions oi' said head and During turneflicient and easilyl casing in such tight frictional contact as to prevent accidental rotation of said head. l

2. In a mechanism of the class described having a fluid-conducting casing, vanes rotatable about a. common axis in said casing, a rotary disk eccentric to said axis, means connecting said vanes with said disk, and a rotatively adjustable head mounted in said casing and carrying said disk for varying the eccentricity of said disk with respect to the vane axis, said casing and head being provided with abutting portions for holding said head against inward movement; a pressure member contacting with the outer side ot said head and having a socket in its outer side, and a clamping screw threaded through a portion of said casing, said clamping screw extending unidirectionally with the axis of said head and having its inner end swlveled in said socket of said pressure member, whereby tightening of said screw will cause said pressure member to inwardly press said head, thereby holdingsaid abutting portions of said head and casing in such tight frictional contact as to hold said head against accidental rotation. i

3. In a mechanism of the class described having a fluid-conducting casing, vanes rotatable about a common axis in said casing, a rotary disk eccentric to said axis, means connecting said vanes with said disk, and a rotatively adjustable f head mounted in said casingand carrying said disk for varying the eccentricity of said disk with respect to the vane axis, said casing and head being provided with abutting portions i'or holding said head against inward movement; a pressure member at the outer side of said head and having a plurality oi' legs contacting with spaced portions of said outer side oi saidhead, and a clamping screw threaded through a portion of said casing and engaging said pressure member,Y whereby tightening of said screw will cause said pressure member to inwardly press said head, thereby holding said abutting portions of said head and casing in such tight frictional contact as to hold said headagainst accidental rotation.

4. In a mechanism of the class described having a duid-conducting casing, vanes rotatable about a common axis in said casing, a rotary disk eccentric to said axis, means connecting said vanes with said disk, and a rotatively adjustable head mounted in said casing and carrying said disk for varying the eccentricity of said disk with respect to the vane axis, said casing and head being provided with abutting portions for holding said head against inward movement; a pressure member at the outer side of said head and having a plurality of legs contacting with spaced portions of said outer side of said head, the outer side of said pressure member being provided with a socket, and a clamping screw threaded through a portion of the casing, said clamping screw extending unidirectionally with the axis of said head and having its inner end swiveled in said socket of said pressure member, whereby tightening of said screw will cause said pressure member to inwardly press said head, thereby holding said abutting portions of said head and casing in such tight frictional contact as to prevent accidental rotation of said head.

5. In a mechanism of the class described having a fluid-conducting casing, vanes rotatable about a common axis in said casing, a rotary disk eccentric to said axis, means connecting said vanes with said disk, and a rotatively adjustable head mounted in said casing and carrying said disk for varying the eccentricity of said disk with respect to the vane axis, said disk having a shaft projecting beyond the outer side of said head, said head and casing being provided with abutting portions for holding said head against inward movement; a pressure member at said outer side of said head and having a plurality of legs contacting with spaced portions thereof, two of said legs ,extending at opposite sides of said projecting shaft, said casing being provided with a socket receiving another of said legs, and a clamping screw threaded through a portion of said casing, said clamping screw being unidirectional with the axis of said head and having its inner end rotatably connected with said pressure member, whereby tightening of said screw will cause said pressure member to inwardly press said head, thereby holding said abutting portions of said head and casing in such tight frictional Contact as to prevent accidental rotation of said head, said socket and the leg therein preventing rotation of said pressure member with said screw.

6. In a mechanism of the class described having a fluid-conducting casing, vanes rotatable about a common axis in said casing, a rotary disk eccentric to said axis, means connecting said vanes with said disk, and a rotatively adjustable head mounted in said casing and carrying said disk for varying the eccentricity of said disk with. respect to the vane axis, the outer side of said head being provided with a substantially radial groove, and an adjusting shaft unidirectional with the axis of said head and passing rotatably through a portion of said casing, said adjusting shaft being provided at its inner end with an eccentric member received in said groove of said head for rotatively adjusting said head when said shaft is turned.

'1. In a mechanism of the class described having a fluid-conducting casing, vanes rotatable about a common axis in said casing, a rotary disk eccentric to said axis, means connecting said vanes with said disk, and a rotatively adjustable head mounted in said casing and carrying said disk for varying the eccentricity of said disk with respect to the vane axis, the outer side of said head being provided with a substantially radial groove, and an adjusting shaft unidirectional with the axis of said head and passing rotatably through a portion of said casing, the inner end of said adjusting shaft being provided with a circumferential flange abutting the inner side of said casing portion, and an eccentrically positioned pin projecting from said flange into said groove of said head for rotatively adjusting said head when said vshaft is turned.

8. In a mechanism of the class described having a casing, and uid handling means in said casing including a rotatively adjustable head, said casing and head having abutting portions for holding said head against inward axial movement; a pressure member between said head and one wall of said casing and abutting said head for exerting axial inward pressure against the latter, a clamping screw threaded through said wall of said casing and abutting said pressure member for holding it tightly against said head, said screw being unidirectional with the axis of said head, and ooacting means on said casing and said pressure member for holding the latter against rotation with said screw.

9. In a. mechanism of the class described having a casing, and fluid handling means in said casing including a rotatively adjustable head, said casing and head having abutting portions for holding said head against inward axial movement; a pressure member between said head and one wall of said casing and abutting said head for exerting axial inward pressure against the latter, a clamping screw threaded through said wall of said casing and abutting said pressure member for holding it tightly against said head. said screw being unidirectional with the axis of said head, and a lug projecting from said pressure member in spaced relation with said screw, said casing having a socket receiving said lug to hold said pressure member against rotation with said screw.

10. In a mechanism of the class described having a casing, and iiuid handling means in said casing including a rotatively adjustable head and a shaft portion projecting centrally outward beyond the outer side of said head, said casing and head having abutting portions for holding said head against inward axial movement; a pressure member between said outer side of said head and a wall of said casing, said pressure member having legs straddling said projecting shaft portion and abutting said outer side of said head for exerting axial inward pressure on the latter, and a clamping screw threaded through said wall of said casing and abutting said pressure member for holding it tightly against said outer side of said head, said screw being unidirectional with the axis of said head.

11. In a mechanism of the class described having a casing, and uid handling means in said casing including a rotatively adjustable head, said casing and head having abutting portions for holding said head against inward axial movement; a, pressure member between the outer side of said head and a wall of said casing and having a plurality of legs bearing against said outer side of said head for exerting axial inward pressure upon the latter, and a clamping screw threaded through said wall of said casing and abutting said pressure member for holding the latter tightly against said head, said screw being unidirectional with the axis of said head, said casing being provided with means engaging a leg of said pressure member for holding the latter against rotation with said screw.

12. In a mechanism of the class described having a casing, and fluid handling means in said casing including a rotatively adjustable head, said casing and head having abutting portions for holding said head against inward axial movement; a pressure member between the outer side of said head and a wall of said casing and having a plurality of legs bearing againstv said outer side of said head for exerting axial inward pressure upon the latter, and a clamping screw threaded through said wall of said casing and abutting said pressure member for holding the latter tightly against said head, said screw being unidirectional with the axis of said head, said casing being provided with a socket receiving a leg of said pressure member for holding the latter'against rotation with said screw. 

